Tractor.



8.1, STIMSON.

TRACTOR.`

- APPLICATION FILED IUNE29 ISI?. LQQWL meme@ Fawn, wwf.

3 SHEETSnSHEET I.

Il II Il li Il Il Il I Il Il |I Il Il 8.1. STIMSON.

RACTOR.

APPLlcATloN FILED JUNE 29,

Patented Feb. l1, i919 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. 1. SHVISON.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED IUIIEzs, 1911.

L l Patented Feb. 11, 1919 SSHEETS--SHEET 3.

UNTED SATES 'T @FFCE BALH J. STIMSGN, OF ROGERSVILLE, MICHIGAN.

TRACTOR.

T 0 all whom t may conce/rn "is a specification, reference being had therein. to the accompanying d rawings.

n doing work with a tractor it is often desirable to make very short turns. En many cases the implement drawn should be swung od shortly, or even turned cornpletely around, whilefsta-nding in one spot and should not he moved aheaduntil it faces the desired position.

This invention relates to tractor construction and partieularlir to an arrangeinent of the driving and steering mechanism which permits the drive wheel and pilot wheel to he combined in one for the purpose of turning,` the tractor and the implement around in an extremely small space.

This invention also relates to means for steeringr `the tractor by the ypower of the` motor and `to means for keeping lthe movements of the steering gear within certain desired limit-s.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter seti forth, and more particun larly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a. plan View of atraetor embodying features of' this invention;

Fig. 2 is'a View in side elevation thereof7 and i Figi'. 3 is a View in section on or about line TIL-1H of Fig. l.

The forward portion of a main frame 1 Carries a circular track 2 'that is L-Shaped in cross section. A fifth wheel 3, preierahl'v an angle bar in section, is rotatable within the ring 2 on suitable side thrust bearings 4. and load hearings 5. Cross members 6 ot the fifth wheei atiord snpport through appropriate hearings 'i for a main axle or journal 8 of a tractor hearingr wheel 9 of any selective type that pio vides a -hroad tread 10. s herein shown7 this Itread has rounded marginal portions. Dispiaeernent ot the ring' 3 on the track 2 is resisted by a. channel oar guard ring 1i, between the dang-es ot' which lies a sprocket chain 12, the latter passing around a sprocket wheel 13 keyed or otherwise made Specification of Letters atent.

`intimiteit; Fel. it, i919.

Application led June 29,1917. Serial No, 177,693.

fast to the upright shatt. i-i otA a worin wheel 15. rhe latter meshes with a worin iti, that is driven l'roin the niain Shaft or an extension 1H thereof7 o'lt a niolor lil. A gear train 2?, ot' two or an even nuinlier oi gears, drives the worin in a reverse direction to the sha't't 1S through the niediuln of a clutch that connects the wheel 2lot the train and the shaft i9. Rotation in the saine direction as the sha i't is attained hy a three wheel or odd-wheel train 20, the driving Aear ot' which may hevcou- 'iled to the extension'lS ol" the niain shalt iiy a suitable clutch 21 rerersely disposed to the clutch Q5. A shitting member 2t coupling` the ei'igaging parts oi the clutches 2l and to move together` effects the engagement of the shaft with either train, the iminipulatincv means of the shitting inemher heiner not illustrated herein as it is not 71er a part oi this invention.

But the shai't 27 which operates the shitting meniher Q6 is aut'on'iatieally controlled by the wheel traine so that the wheel itself cannot he thrf`r Si n into a position more than at right angles tothelength ol1 the traine. A knock-oft' plate 28 that 'is pivoted to the main vtrarne is linked by a rod 29 to a rock arm 30 ot the sha'lft 27. A knock-ott pin 31.011 the fi'lth wheel engages the knockoiT plate 2R when .the traction wheel is turned in one direction and therehy throws the clutch-25 out ol engagement while a pin 32 on the tiith wheel throws the plate 2S in the opposite direction and eil'ects disengagement ot the companion cluteh 2i so that Jthe limit, of motion of the traction hearing Wheels is a position at rig'lrt angies to the mainframe in either direction of the swing".

A yoke traine 33 ot appropriate design spans over the main traction bearing wheel and swings with il, the vertical center of motion being concentric with that of a stud 34 on the t' ame. The latter atiords pivotal support tor the two meinhers 35 and it ot a coupling` hearing'. in ywhich the oppositely disposed and alined members 37 and 23S ol a power'shait are jonrnaled. An intermediate hevel wheel 39 on the stud meshes with pinions 40 and 41 on the shaft sectionsn A universal coupihirr of appropriate design as indicated at 42, designed to permit play between the parts, connects the shaft section 37 with the niain shaft 46. A takee pinion i7 on the section `meshthe traction bearing wheel, a power shaft on the main franie, and an intermediate lshaft between the power shaft and the `Yoke frame spindle operatively coupled through appropriate gearing and fiexible connections with said pinion shaft and beveled gear to operate the traction bearing wheel.

5l. A t actor coniprising a frame, a power plat mounted thereon. aV fifth wheel journaled in the frame, means connected to the fifth wheel and to the power plant adapted to swing the fifth wvheel in either direction, means to automatically define the limit of motion of the fifth wheel in the frame. a traction wheel journaled in the fifth wheel, a ,volte frame mounted on the fifth wheel. a gear train mounted on the yoke frame for driving the traction bearing wheel, and including a beveled pinion, a spindle on the yoke frame in axial alinement with the axis of rotation of the fifth wheel. a beveled gear on the spindle meshing with the pinion, a power shaft on the main frame. and an intermcdiate shaft. having swivel and Cardan joint connections with the power shaft, and a pinion on one of the intermediate shaft sections meshing with the spindle gear.

4. A tractor comprising a main frame, a fifth wheel rotatably mounted therein, a single traction bearing wheel journaled in the fifth wheel for supporting a portion of the main frame., easter bearing wheels supporting the other portion of the main frame. means for locking the caster hearing wheels in longitudinal alinement with the frame, a power plant on the frame. means operatively connecting the power plant .with the fifth wheel for turning the latter in either direction, means on the main frame and fifth wheel for automatically arresting the movement of the fifth Wheel in either direction at a prescribed limit. change speed and reversing mechanism mounted on the main frame and connected to theI power plant. a yoke frame on the fifth wheel spanning the traction bearing wheel. a spindle on the yoke in axial coincidence with the axis of the fifth wheel, gearing mounted on the yoke frame and connected to the traetion bearing` wheel to drive the latter, a beveled gear mounted on the spindle for engaging and driving the latter train, a pinion for driving the beveled gear. and a sectional shaft having universal and longitudinally expansible joint connections and coupling the beveled pinion and the transmission mechanism for driving the traction wheel in any angular position assumed by the fifth Wheel.

5. In a tractor. a horizontally disposed main frame. a fifth wheel journaled therein. a traction bearing wheel journaled .in the fifth wheel. a yoke frame on the fifth wheel spanning the traction bearing wheel, a hull gear on the traction bearing wheel, a hull pinion engaging the bull gear, a t'ansmis sion gearing train driving the bull pinion and turning in the yoke frame, a spindle on the yoke frame in axial coincidence with the axis of the fifth wheel.l a drive shaft for the yoke frame gear train transverse to the spindle. a beveled gear on the spindle, a beveled pinion on the shaft in mesh with the gear, change speed and reversing mech anism on the main frame, a shaft driven thereby having` loosely coupled and longitudinally extensible sections, one of which is adjacent the spindle. means for supporting said shaft sections in operative relation to the spindle, and a bevel pinion on one of said sections meshing with the spindle gear.

fi. ln a tractor. a main frame. 'a traction bearing wheel journaled in the flame. and adapted to turn on an axis transverse to its axis of rotationrin the frame. a yoke frame spanning the wheel and turning therewith. a spindle on the volte frame in axial coincidence with the transverse axis of the traction bearing wheel. a coupling bearing hav ing two oppositelv disposed members each pivoted on the spindle. a beveled gear rotatable on the spindle. a take-off shaft journaled in one of the members of the couplinLr bearing, a beveled pinion driving .said shaft in mesh with the beveled gear. and a power Shaftmember journalcd in tht` other part of the coupling bearing and provided with a beveled pinion meshing with and driving the spindle gear.

7. ln a tractor, a main frame. a traction bearing wheel journaled in the main frame and swiveled to turn on an axis transverse t0 its axis of rotation. a volte frame turning with the traction bearing wheel. a spindle on the yoke frame in axial coincidence with the transverse axis of the traction bearing wheel, a coupling bearing having two oppositely disposed ,members arch secured tothe spindle, power connections for driving the traction bearing wheel including a shaft having both universal and longitudinally extensible couplings and terminating in a part that. is journaled in one of the coupling bearing members. a take-off shaft iournaled in the otherbearing mcinbcr. and a beveled gear train operatively connecting the shaft parts in the coupling bearing members and including an intermediate beveled gear journaled on the spindle with pinions in mesh therewith. cach secured to one of said shaft, parts.

8. in ar tractor, a main frame. a fifth wheel journalcd in the frame. a traction bearing wheel journaltal in the fifth wheel. a power plant, a power shaft on the plant. forward and reverse gear trains. a clutch for each train adapted fo couple if with thc power shaft. a worm driven bv lh!l trains a worm wheel operated by the worm, a ,sprocket 

